James Allen Popelka, 20 Sept 1938 - 19 Jan 2016

POPELKA, LAHODNY, SHAFER, JAHLAS, GUNDERSON, CROFT

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 1/27/2016 at 15:20:41

Belle Plaine

James Allen Popelka, 77, of Belle Plaine, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Hrabak Funeral Home in Belle Plaine with Bonnie Koeppen officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Belle Plaine. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Hrabak Funeral Home. Visitation will continue one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com.

James Allen Popelka was born in Chelsea, Iowa, on Sept. 20, 1938, the son of Helen [Lahodny] and Joe Popelka. He graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1955 at the age of 16. He worked for the Iowa DOT. He then worked for Collins Radio. Jim married the love of his life, Doris Shafer, on Jan. 30, 1960. They welcomed daughter Renee that same year. He moved his family to Livermore, Calif., in 1961. He worked at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory there until 1972. At that time, they moved back to Belle Plaine and bought The Office tavern. He operated that until 1977. He then did woodworking. He also worked for the telephone company. His last employment was with the U.S. postal service as a rural mail carrier.

He enjoyed life to the fullest. He never knew a stranger. He was full of life and energy. He enjoyed traveling and making new friends along the way. Jim always had a smile and a kind word for people. He loved his music and enjoyed playing the spoons and accordion. He loved to laugh and was very quick-witted with a joke or a story.

His is survived by his daughter, Renee (Rick) Jahlas of Belle Plaine; grandsons, Nick (Jacie) Gunderson of Watkins and Dawson Jahlas of Center Point; sister, Joann Croft of Belle Plaine; brother, Melvin (Pat) Popelka of Ames; and great-grandchildren, Brock and Daena Gunderson, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; grandson, Kyle; brother, Roland; sister, Gertude and his parents, Helen and Joe Popelka.

He will be deeply missed by all of his family and friends.

The Gazette, Posted on Wednesday, 20 January 2016, 10a